321. Ocean Colour Scene: O2 Academy, Leeds [5.12.18]

321a_Ocean Colour Scene [051218]Artist: Ocean Colour Scene

Support: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 5.12.18

It’s somewhat ignorant and rude when the majority of the audience talk throughout the support band; incredulous when the support act is Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Living Motown legends are few and far between. Shut the f*ck up and watch the band!

Thankfully, Ocean Colour Scene ramped-up the volume to deliver a hefty set of their best known tracks.

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Setlist: Everything Comes at the Right Time / The Riverboat Song / Profit in Peace / Better Day / Weekend / One for the Road / Get Blown Away / The Circle / Step by Step / Besides Yourself / I Wanna Stay Alive with You / This Day Should Last Forever / Be with You / Up on the Downside / Saturday / Jane She Got Excavated / July / You’ve Got It Bad / Travellers Tune // Robin Hood – Live Together / Another Bard May Chant / Hundred Mile High City / It’s a Beautiful Thing / The Day We Caught the Train

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318. Mogwai: O2 Academy, Leeds [24.11.18]

318a_Mogwai [241118]Artist: Mogwai

Support: The Twilight Sad

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 24.11.18

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There’s not really much to see at a Mogwai gig – but the sonic onslaught is like no other live music experience; truly awesome. *Don’t ever feed them after midnight.

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Setlist: Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home / Friend of the Night / We’re Not Done (End Title) / Party in the Dark / Old Poisons / Crossing the Road Material / Rano Pano / Don’t Believe the Fife / Auto Rock / Remurdered / Every Country’s Sun / Like Herod // New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 1 / We’re No Here

316. Dr. John Cooper Clarke: O2 Academy, Leeds [17.11.18]

316a_John Cooper Clarke [171118]Artist: Dr. John Cooper Clarke

Support: Geoffrey Allerton (Simon Day) / Mike Garry / Toria Garbutt

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 17.11.18

The legendary people’s poet and fellow wordsmiths performing spoken word for the masses. Mirthful to see many youngsters at such a performance, with their parents cringing at the barrage of F-bombs launched from the stage (as if the kids don’t already know those words).

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300. St. Vincent: O2 Academy, Leeds [28.8.18]

300a_St. Vincent [280818]Artist: St. Vincent

Support: Girl Gang Leeds [DJ Set]

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 28.8.18

Another landmark gig (no. 300) – and what a gig it was; instantly claiming a place in my all time top 10.

The entire audience seemed to be in love with the awesome power and presence of Annie Clark (AKA St. Vincent). The very definition of ‘Masseduction’.

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297. New Purple Celebration: Leeds Town Hall [16.8.18]

297a_New Purple Celebration [160818]Artist: New Purple Celebration

Venue: Leeds Town Hall

Date: 16.8.18

I usually avoid tribute bands, in fear of them tainting legends or simply cashing-in on the effort of others.

However, having foolishly missed the opportunity to see the true ‘purple one’ before his premature departure, the chance to see Prince’s music performed live was hard to refuse (especially as the tickets were free).

Although they’ll never come close to the real thing, New Purple Celebration are an incredibly talented collective of musicians who clearly love the music of Prince in his many guises. This was a welcome chance to hear respectful recitals from his back catalogue.

Shame about the audience, who were generally a crowd of fidgety morons with minimum attention span (probably due to a high number of complimentary tickets being issued). I expect the fans were rather more engaged at real Prince gigs.

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294. Gary Numan: The Picturedrome, Holmfirth [18.7.18]

294a_Gary Numan [180718]Artist: Gary Numan

Support: Nightmare Air

Venue: The Picturedrome, Holmfirth

Date: 18.7.18

294b_Gary Numan [180718]294c_Midnight Air [180718]

Having waited a gig-goer’s lifetime to see Gary Numan, I got to do so three times within 12 months – thanks to his ‘Savage’ resurgence. Always a spectacular set from the ever-evolving showman – but this intimate warm-up show for the forthcoming Bluedot Festival was by far the best.

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Setlist: Pressure / Halo / The Fall / Metal / Ghost Nation / Bed of Thorns / Me! I Disconnect from You / Pray for the Pain You Serve / Here in the Black / My Name is Ruin / Down in the Park / Cars / Love Hurt Bleed / My Jesus / When the World Comes Apart // A Prayer for the Unborn / Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

291. Let’s Rock Leeds: Temple Newsam, Leeds [16.6.18]

291a_Let’s Rock Leeds [160618]Artists: Adam Ant / The Boomtown Rats / ABC / Marc Almond / Nik Kershaw / The Real Thing / Aswad / Black Lace / Kim Appleby / Heather Small / Hazel Dean / Peter Coyle (Lotus Eaters) / Anabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow) / Brother Beyond / Fuzzbox / Toyah / The Christians / Captain Sensible

Venue: Temple Newsam, Leeds

Date: 16.6.18

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I grew up in East Leeds during the 1970s and ’80s. It therefore seemed appropriate to return to Temple Newsam (a regular haunt during past school summer holidays) to see the musicians who influenced my music tastes.

Having previously seen Adam Ant perform Dirk Wears White Sox and Blueblack Hussar gigs, it was good to see him do a hits set in the headline slot.

Another highlight was seeing over-protective parents ushering their offspring from the event as The Boomtown Rats took to the stage with Bob Geldolf dropping a barrage of f-bombs. The social media backlash was laughable – what the f*ck did people honestly expect.

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290. The Wedding Present: The Chapel, Leeds [9.6.18]

290a_The Wedding Present [090618]

Artist: The Wedding Present

Support: Napoleon IIIrd

Venue: The Chapel, Leeds

Date: 9.6.18

‘Tommy’ 30th Anniversary Tour: The line-up of The Wedding Present may have gone through many changes over the past three decades but their music has stood the test of time.

An intimate ‘home-town’ gig and set of Wedding Present favourites, interspersed with David Gedge’s familiar witty banter. Big sound, small venue, ringing ears!

Setlist: Corduroy / Two Bridges / Gazebo / Brassneck / Go Out and Get ‘em Boy / (The Moment Before) Everything’s Spoiled Again / Once More / Ringway to Seatac / At the Edge of the Sea / Boo Boo / The Queen of Outer Space / What Becomes of the Broken Hearted / Living and Learning / This Boy Can Wait / Felicity / You Should Always Keep in Touch with Your Friends / I’m Not Always So Stupid / Kennedy / Never Said / Every Mother’s Son / My Favourite Dress / Take Me!

290b_The Wedding Present [090618]

288. Rubble at Mill, Farsley [27.5.18]

288a_rubble at mill [270518]Artist: Aziz Ibrahim & Dal Singh Rattan (Aziz & Dal)

Support: Bloxed Beats / Toria Garbutt, Louise Fazackerley & Kirsty Taylor (Nymphs & Thugs) / Testament

Venue: Trouble at Mill, Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley

Date: 27.5.18

As always, an impressive array of talent formed the line-up for the last ever ‘Trouble at Mill’ before the venue was to be demolished – therefore ‘Rubble at Mill’ on this occasion.

Music, spoken word poetry and beatboxing, accompanied by fine food and drink. Such nights will be missed but the spirit lives on in a new home; The Constitutional, Farsley.

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282. Roni Size: Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds [24.2.18]

282a_Roni Size [250218]

Artist: Roni Size

Venue: Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds

Date: 25.2.18

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The 20th Anniversary of Roni Size / Reprazent’s ‘New Forms’. A pioneering album that brought drum & bass to the mainstream. Performed live at this gig by a solo Roni Size, the timeless tracks sounded as fresh and edgy as ever. New Forms, old classics, timeless.

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Setlist: Morse Code / Railing / Brown Paper Bag / New Forms / Let’s Get It On / Trust Me / Electricks / Heroes / Down / Western / Watching Windows / Digital / Hold the Front Page / Hi-Potent / Share the Fall / Unknown (New) / Dirty Beats / Unfinished Sympathy // Unknown